A Definitive Guide to Styling With The Chicest Rugs

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We’ve all been there before. You find a rug you absolutely love, but aren’t completely sure of where it would go. Perhaps the bedroom or the living room – but what happens when it just doesn’t seem to fit in with the rest of the decor? Not to worry! Here, we explore just a few of our favorite rug styles and shapes, with helpful tips for incorporating them seamlessly into your space. Take a look!

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KRISTIN LAGERQVIST VIA KRICKELIN ELLE DECORATION

Jute

This just may be the quintessential material of summer. We love it for its versatility and subtle textural qualities that make up for its lack in color – one which often allows it to work easily within a variety of decorative styles.

LYNDEN FOSS/CITIZENS OF STYLE

An understated area rug means opportunities for more vibrant furnishings and accent pieces. Layer the look with pieces that come with a stark contrast or bold detail.

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Indoor/Outdoor

As we make our way into the warmer season, the transition between indoor and outdoor living becomes more seamless. Finding a floor piece that can function between the two is essential, especially when it comes to the spaces with the most amount of foot traffic. When choosing a specific make or material, weatherproof is a priority, as is a stain-free composition.

SARAHSHERMANSAMUEL.COM

Summer stripes come in the form of a versatile rug, best when paired with pared down furnishings of a reserved color scheme. Invest in rattan accents that can work in both an indoor and outdoor decor scheme, and tie the look together with a piece that wows.

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Solids

Solid-colored rugs may not be the most exciting, but don’t underestimate the effect one can have on a space. When chosen carefully, a solid rug can unite an eclectic decor scheme, or provide a colorful moment in a monochromatic space.

ARTICLE

Pink and brass make for a flawless pair, especially when complemented by a luxe scene. This solid pink, textured rug is versatile enough to fit within a variety of design schemes. We’d couple it with a set of dual-toned pieces of a mid-century modern make, and complete the look with lustrous brass fixtures.

Botanical

Potted greenery aside, bringing the outdoors in hardly gets any easier than with a botanically-inspired floor piece. Whether you are going for the abundantly decked variety, or something on the more subtle side, these colorful pieces will bring a lighthearted touch to just about any space.

SIREN LAUVDAL

A proper first impression (for the home) starts with a statement entry outfitted with an element as eye-catching as this botanical rug. Pair the look with furnishings of warm wooden details and woven textures to accentuate the bold tones of the piece.

Stripes

Stripes are known for their ability to visually expand the look of a space. Throw down a vertically-striped runner in a tiny kitchen, and the space is instantly elongated! Regardless of size, shape, or form, a striped rug is a classically timeless element that is functional as well.

TESSA NEUSTADT

Black and white stripes can be fairly easy to incorporate into a space. Add in a mix of colors and patterns, and things can get a little more tricky. The key to successfully incorporating an eclectically patterned rug into your space would be to pair it with decorative accents the come in similar tones. Here, a white sofa establishes a subtle backdrop for the colorful accents that will come to surround it. Throw pillows and a coffee table book borrow hues from the rug, helping establish a more cohesive element to the overall look.

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Geometric

Modern, clean, and often decked with a complementary slew of colors. When it comes to rugs, the geometrically-patterned variety is hard to beat. These show-stopping pieces are best when paired with a more understated aesthetic or design scheme. Plus, they make for seriously chic wall-hangings as well!

FERM LIVING

Complement the design of a geometric rug by surrounding it with decorative accents that come in a similar style or make. Create a statement nook in the living room by outfitting a whitewashed side table with geometrically-focused pieces. Set a streamlined sconce above the side table and lay out a vibrantly patterned rug beneath it. As a result of the busy print of the floor piece, there is little need for the superflous.

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Overdyed

Consider overdyed rugs as a more subtle way to bring in a pop of color to a space. Traditionally, the overdyed technique involves bleaching and dyeing a carpet, often in a rich or saturated tone, to establish an effect where the underlying pattern shines through to the top layer.

MELISSA OHOLENDT

We’re all for letting overdyed rugs stand in as the focus of a room. After all, with a color tone as vibrantly beautiful as this, who wouldn’t want it to? Surround the piece with furnishings that come in a more subtle color play, opting for light-stained wood pieces and plenty of white. Bring in wall art that pays a subtle color tribute to the rug, helping tie the various pieces together.

Shag

If you ask us, a room sans texture is not a complete one. A shag rug not only brings in a wealth of texture, but also instills a sense of warmth within a space. Whether you’re opting for something colorful or an exclusively monochrome one, a shag piece has the ability to instantly redefine the decor of a room.

JUSTINA BLAKENEY FOR LOLOI

Consider it the ultimate Moroccan escape, right in the center of your home. We’re all for making the most of this classic pairing anchored by an asymmetrically-patterned floor piece. A luxuriously oversized lounge in a dreamy shade of hunter green complements the leather pouf and metallic details.

Hides

Hides help extend a natural detail to a space and are best for layering. Balance out an exclusively contemporary decor scheme with a cozy sheepskin to instill a more comfortable element. Prefer a hide? Lay one atop an oversized jute rug in the living room, for a dynamic finish.

KARA ROSENLUND

With this hide, we’re seeking a masculine-inspired setup with bold textures and a monochromatic scheme. A black leather lounge pairs effortlessly well with the intricately-designed hide, later to be complemented by the low-set coffee table with subtle brass details.

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Moroccan

For the decorator in favor of a globally-inspired aesthetic, Moroccan rugs simply go without saying. Handwoven, hand-knotted, and often one-of-a-kind, think of them as an effortlessly chic way of bringing in a more dynamic characteristic to a design.

LOOMANDFIELD VIA ETSY

Create a colorful reading nook, clad in an assortment of cozy textures that span across a majority of the area’s furnishings. A vibrantly patterned landing pad helps set the confines of the area while a belly basket, filled with textured throws, establishes a softening effect.

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Naturals

Less statement piece and more functional – a rug that comes in a neutral palette is great for instilling a balanced element to the design of a room. It lays the groundwork (quite literally) for decor schemes that can range from the more eclectic to the entirely monochrome.

VINTAGE PIKEN

We’re pairing this playfully striped rug with equally vibrant furnishings, fit for the little ones’ space. A lustrous gold wallpaper sets the ultimate backdrop for the colorful pieces that embody an essence of stylish functionality.